". AWARD NASD Dispute Resolution In the Matter ofthe Arbitration Between Name ofclaimants Anil and Sudha Agarwal and Name ofrespondents 97-01842 Omaha, Nebraska Euro-Atlantic Securities, Inc. James St. Clair, Jr. Brian Hennan Thomas Fox David Melillo Nature of the Dispute: Customers vs. Member and Associated Persons REPRESENTATION OF PARTIES Anil and SudhaAgarwal ("Claimants") wererepresentedbydennis E. Martin, Esq., Dwyer, Smith, Gardner, Lazer, Pohren, Rogers & Forrest, Omaha,Nebraska and Thomas Underwood,Esq., Omaha, Nebraska. York. was (" ') was represented Stuart D. Meissner, Esq., New York, New David Melillo ("l\1elillo") did not appear at the hearing. CASEINFORl\1ATION The Statement of Claim was filed on or about April 11, 1997. The Submission Agreement of Claimants, Anil and Sudha Agarwal, was signed on about April 2, 1997. Claimants' Response to the Motion to Dismiss was filed on or about January 9,2004. '------ The Statement ofanswer was filed byrespondent on or about December 4, 1997. The Submission Agreement ofrespondent~as signed on or about November 21, 1997. ~otion to Dismiss was filed on or about January 9,2004. Motion for Sanctions was filed on or about March 9, 2004._'sSupplement to the Motion for Sanctions was filed on or about March 11,2004._sAdditional Supplement to the Motion for Sanctions was filed on or about March 22, 2004.
Arbitration No. 97-01842. Award Page 2 of7 Euro-Altantic Securities, Inc. did not file an Answer or a Submission AgreemeD.t. James St. Clair, Jr. did not file an Answer or a Submission Agreement. Brian Herman did not file an Answer or a Submission Agreement. Thomas Fox did not file an Answer or a Submission Agreement. CASE SUMMARY Claimants asserted the following causes of action: breach of contract; fraud; breach of fiduciary duty; negligence; unauthorized trading; and conspiracy. The causes of action relate to the order execution ofthe Hollywood Products Warrants (FILMW)'stock. Claimants specifically stated the following: On or about February 19,1997 _purchased 51,000 shares ofhollywood Products Warrants ("FILMW") in the Agarwals' account without their authorization. A few days thereafter, the Agarwals received a Confirmation/Comparison Statement ("confirm") documenting the securities purchased, trade date, settlement date, and the. cost ofthe transaction from WS Clearing, Inc. ("WS"). The Agarwals were unaware that Hollywood Productions has been identified as a mob-exploited stock. Unless specificallyadmitted inhis Answer, Respondent denied the allegations made in the Statement ofclaim and asserted the following defenses: The Statement ofclaim fails to state a claim upon which reliefmaybe granted; There is a lack ofprivity between claimants and Respondent who had no contact with knowled--e of or res onslbli1 for the transactions com lained ~ e lack of pnvlty between Claimants and Respondent precludes Claimants ftom establishing the requisite of loss causation due to any con uct or misconduct of Respondent _;Claimants have approved, authorized and ratified the acts complained ofand, accordingly, are precluded from asserting the same as a basis for recovery; Claimants' losses, ifany, were the result ofclaimants' own conduct; The claims set forth in the Statement ofclaim are barred herein because they are presently the subject of a pending Bankruptcy Court proceeding in California; The claims presented byclaimants in the instant proceeding are barred herein; They are fully covered byinsurance under the Securities Insurance Investor Protection Corporation, and subrogated to a recovery there under; Based upon the allegations set forth in the Statement of Claim, it appears that Respondent _himselfis the victim offraud; Claimants, bytheirown conduct, havewaived any and all claimswhich theymayhave had agains_;all risks concerningclaimants' investments were properly disclosed to Claimants, and theyknowingly, willingly and volunt~ to assume those risks; Claimants did not rely to their detriment on any action or inactiono~oron any act of omission legally attributable to _ Claimants' claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the
Arbitration No. 97-01842 Award Page 3 of7 doctrine ofwaiver; Claimants' claims are barred, in whole orinpart, bythe doctrines ofestoppel and laches; Claimants have failed to mitigate their damages; and, Claimants are not entitled to punitive damages as a matter onaw and as a matter offact. In his Crossclaim against Respondents Euro-Atlantic and David Melina, Respondent_ requests that if it is determined that Respondent_is liable in any degree to Claimants, Respondent_sentitled to beindemnified byrespondentseuro-atlantic and David Melillo. for the amount ofthat liability. RELIEF REOUESTED Claimants requested an award in the amount of $158,361.00 as compensatory damages, plus punitive damages in excess of $500,000.00, attorney's fees, interest, costs and such other further relief as the Arbitrators may deem just and proper. Respondent _requested that the claims asserted against him be denied in their entirety, plus costs and such other and further relief as is just and proper. In his Crossclaim, Respondent t,equested the Panel grantjudgmentto him over and against Respondents Euro-Atlantic and David Melillo for indemnification for the amount of any sum that may be recovered in this proceeding against him. ', OTHER ISSUES CONSIDERED & DECIDED Respondents James St. Clair, Jr., Brian Herman, and Thomas Fox were dismissed bythe Claimants without prejudice on or about September 3, 1997. On March 4, 2003, Claimants were advised as fonows: Pleased be advised that Securities Investor Protection Securities, Inc. (SlPC) stepped in to protect customers' accounts maintained at Euro-Atlantic Securities, Inc. As a result, all matters concurring [sic] this party are indefinitely stayed. At the hearing, the Panel granted Respondent's completion ofclaimants' case. The Panel granted Respondent's against Claimants. otion to Dismiss made upon Motion for Sanctions Any motions not previously decided by the Panel are denied. At the hearing, there was a dispute as to whether Respondent David Melillo had been served. Upon review ofthe file and the representations made by/on behalfofthe Claimants, the undersigned arbitration have determined that Respondent David Melillo has notbeen properly served with the
Arbitration No. 97-01842. Award Page 4 on Statement of Claim pursuant to Rule 10314 of the NASD Code of Arbitrati10n Procedure (the "Code"). The undersigned arbitrators have also determined that Respondent Meli~lohas not received due notice ofthe hearing as required under Rule 10315 ofthe Code and that the arbitration ofthis matter would proceed against Respondent _ only pursuant to Rule 10318 ofthe Code. The parties have agreed that the Award in this matter may be executed in counterpart copies or that a handwritten, signed Award may be entered. In either case, the parties have agreed to receive conformed copies of the award while the original(s) remain on file with the NASD Dispute Resolution (the "NASD"). AWARD After considering the pleadings, the testimony, and the evidence presented at the hearing, the undersigned arbitrators have decided in full and final resolution of the issues submitted for determination as follows: 1. Claimants' claims, each and all, against Respondent_are denied and dismissed with prejudice; - ----., 2. Claimants' claims, each and all, against Respondent David Melillo are dismissed without prejudice;... ------ 3. Respondent s Crossclaim is hereby denied and dismissed with prejudice; 4. Claimants ~arwal,are jointly and severally liable for and shall pay to Respondent,_ the sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred and No Cents ($2,500.00) as sanctions. In deciding the monetary award for sanctions, the Panel ruled that it sustained Responden. s Motion for Sanctions due to the Claimants' failure to respond to the Panel's previous orders concerning discovery; 5. Claimants, Anil and Sudha A Respondent, (~2,500.QQlas ~orney's fees; arwal, are jointly and severally for liable and shall pay to t e sum of Two Thousand Five Hundred and No Cents 6. The Panel recommends the exfungement ofall reference to the above captioned arbitration from Respondent ~ registration records maintained bythe NASD Central Registration Depository ("CRD"), with the understanding that pursuant to NASD Notices to Members 99-09 and 99-54, Respondent must obtain confirmation from a court ofcompetent jurisdiction before the CRD will execute the expungement directive; 7. To the extent not specifically awarded or otherwise provided for above, all other claims and requests for reliefby any party hereto are denied with prejudice; and,
Arbitration No. 97-01842 Award Page 5 of7 8. Other than the Forum Fees noted below, the parties shall each bear all other costs and expenses incurred by them in connection with this proceeding, including but not limited to attorneys fees. Pursuant to the Code, the following fees are assessed: Filing Fees NASD Dispute Resolution will retain or collect the non-refundable filing fees for each claim: Initial claim filing fee Crossclaim filing fee = $250.00 = $250.00 Adjournment Fees Adjournments requested during these proceedings: August,13, 2003 Hearing Date, adjournment by Feb~earingDates, adjournment by Anil and Sudha Agarwal and_($500 each party) = $1,000.00 = $ 1,000.00 Forum Fees and Assessments The Arbitration Panel assesses forum fees for eachhearing session conducted. A hearing session is any meeting between the parties and the arbitrators, including a pre-hearing conference with the arbitrators, that lasts four (4) hours or less. Fees associated with these proceedings are: 2 Pre-hearing sessions with Panel x 1,000.00 $ May 14, 2003 1 Session August 28, 2003 1 Session 4 Hearing sessions x 1,000.00 May 19, 2004 2 Sessions May 20, 2004 2 Sessions Total Forum Fees $ 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00 6,000.00
Arbitration No. 97-01842, Award Page 6 of7 ~' The Arbitration Panel has assessed $6,000.00 of the forum fees jointly and se~erally to Anil and t/( \.. Sudha Agarwal..---- -~------ Fee Summary Claimants, Anil and Sudha Agarwal shall be and hereby are jointly and severally liable for: Initial Filing Fee Adjournment Fee Forum Fees Total Fees Less payments Balance Due NASD Dispute Resolution 250.00 500,.00 6,000.00 6,750.00-1,250.00 5,500.00 Respondent, shall be and hereby is liable for: ' Crossclaim Filing Fee Adjournment Fees Total Fees Less payments Balance Due NASD Dispute Resolution ~ 250.00 1,500.00 1,750.00-1,000.00 750.00 All balances are payable to NASD Dispute Resolution and are due upon receipt pursuant to Rule 10330(g) ofthe Code. ARBITRATJON PANEL Wayne S. Rasmussen, Esq. - Public Arbitrator, Presiding Chair Thomas J. Tarsney, Esq. - Public Arbitrator John R. Lepley, CFP, J.D. - Non-Public Arbitrator
Arbitration No. 97-01842 Award Page 7 of7 / Concuning Arbitrators: lsi Wayne S. Rasmussen, Esq. Wayne S. Rasmussen, Esq. Public Arbitrator, Presiding Chair lsi Thomas J. Tarsney, Esq. Thomas J. Tarsney, Esq. Public Arbitrator. lsi John R. Lepley, CFP, J.D. JohnR. Lepley, CFP, J.D. Non-Public Arbitrator 06/04/04 Signature Date 06/02/04 Signature Date 06/03/04 Signature Date 06/07/04 Date ofservice